Vancouver’s Darker Beauty

Vancouver is a beautiful city, rated one of the best places to live in the world. However as one passes by downtown east side, does that description still apply? I moved to Vancouver about 18 years ago. The cross streets of Hastings and Main still look like what it was back then with one major difference – the people.  The life expectancy of those living in Canada’s poorest postal code is about 20 years lower compared to other local neighbourhoods. The heavy open-drug usage in the area is quite a revelation for many tourists. Being touted the most concentrated HIV-infection zone in North America, and factoring in other diseases such as hepatitis, residents of the DTES are battling it out with substance abuse.

I had a friend that fell on some hard times and unfortunately, used crack cocaine to get him through it.  Several months later, he managed to kick the habit and resumed his life. However several years passed, he hit a rough patch and resorted to his old ways. I heard from a friend that he currently resides in the DTES, doing what it takes to feed his addiction. He had a strong will but had always been struggling against this addiction disease. Its painful to see any friend go through such ordeals. He made a bad decision and wishes he could change the past.

It would be foolish to state that rehabilitation works for everyone. However, many people have been successfully “transformed” through intervention and other means.  Lives saved through rehab would be the same as bringing someone back to life – miracles CAN happen.